Change. The word alone can trigger anxiety. When life as we know it takes a turn, it’s easy to feel intimidated; the familiar, after all, is comfortable.

But change prevents stagnation. It injects energy into routine and propels us forward into unexplored terrain, presenting opportunities that would remain beyond reach if we didn’t take action and move ahead.

A study from Burning Glass Technologies shows that one-quarter of all occupations in the United States are now "hybrids" and are universally the fastest-growing and highest-paying – and also the most resistant to automation. Areas of expertise that were once unrelated, and jobs that two or even three individuals used to do, are now being combined into one role.

A surprisingly strong burst of job growth over the past year has led many economists to wonder: Where are all the workers coming from?

The pace of hiring in 2018 was the most robust in three years, and for a surprising reason: Many more people have decided to look for work than experts had expected. The influx of those job seekers, if sustained, could help extend an economic expansion that is already the second-longest on record.